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Case Reports 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 117-125 PubMed PMID: 15735594 Citation  Keywords:  Adult, Birth Weight, Brain:physiology, Case-Control Studies, Disease:psychology, Female, Fetus:physiology, Hormones:physiology, Humans, Infant, Low Birth Weight, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Medical Records, Models, Biological, Models, Psychologica.   

: The long term impact of being born premature has received limited scientific investigation. Studies that have been carried out, focus on outcomes in childhood, with very few considering the impact on adult physical health. Three case studies are presented here, investigating differences in adult minor illness and psychological variables between adult participants born preterm, fullterm but small and fullterm with normal birthweight. This is a retrospective design using questionnaires and checklist to gather relevant information. Minor illness symptoms, daily hassles, anxiety, depression and general self-efficacy were measured. The participant born preterm scored higher on all measures. Data were applied to the Equilibrium Model for Minor Illness. Being born early appears to have a greater impact on later adult outcomes measured than being born fullterm but small or fullterm but of normal weight. In this article the authors reflect upon possible explanations for the different outcomes of each of the participants within the foetal origins of disease theory....

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Journal Article 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 103-109 PubMed PMID: 15735592 Citation  Keywords:  Caregivers:psychology, Counseling, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Intensive Care Units, Neonatal, Parents:psychology, Physician's Role, Psychological Techniques,.   

: Counselling psychology appears to be neglecting the importance and merits of working with the client population associated with the preterm neonate within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Throughout, the benefits of such a move are highlighted with particular emphasis on how counselling psychologists are uniquely qualified for this role. Specialist knowledge required to provide clients with the greatest therapeutic gains illustrates the pertinent issues, with proposals for clinical practice put forward. NHS Trusts nationwide are encouraged to recruit this ready-made professional into the Department for the psychological health of parents and caregivers engaged in caring for the preterm neonate....

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Journal Article 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 95-102 PubMed PMID: 15735591 Citation  Keywords:  Analysis of Variance, Breast Feeding, Female, Hospitalization, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Mothers:psychology, Parenting:psychology, Self Efficacy,.   

: Breastfeeding is a complex task for many mothers but may be particularly difficult when coping with the birth of a preterm. In the following article the task of breastfeeding a preterm neonate is identified as one facet of the parenting process and the many problems encountered when breastfeeding are highlighted. Research is presented which investigates whether breastfeeding a preterm neonate mediates mothers' Perceived Parenting Self-Efficacy (PMP S-E) whilst in hospital. The findings from this study suggest that not only do mothers who are breastfeeding their preterm neonate have a lower self-efficacy than non-breastfeeding mothers, but they also require further support in all aspects of parenting. The authors discuss these results in terms of self-efficacy theory and suggest that they may have implications for Neonatal Health Psychologists practice particularly with regard to the facilitation of breastfeeding within the neonatal unit....

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Journal Article 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 79-85 PubMed PMID: 15735589 Citation  Keywords:  Child Development, Female, Humans, Infant, Newborn, Infant, Premature, Learning, Maternal Behavior, Mother-Child Relations, Mothers:psychology, Social Identification, Social Support, Stress, Psychological:psychology,.   

: This article draws together thoughts derived from an experienced clinical psychologist's practice, with parents of ill and premature infants in the context of a psychological service for children and parents in a paediatric and maternity teaching hospital. Parents were those referred by attendant neonatologists in intensive neonatal care who observed acute distress. Referral was usually some weeks after birth and help continued until after discharge, in some instances after the death of the infant. The particular approach adopted was that of offering parents a therapeutic contact which, allowed them talk over these thoughts and feelings for which they had little other skilled listening environment. Parents chose the opportunity of a safe, calm and confidential contact to explore deep feelings and draw on their own strengths and an understanding of their own vulnerabilities. The novel insights derived and the clinical material presented were used to develop an understanding of the issues a support service should address. Key aims are described and should be incorporated to restore and enhance personal strengths and the mother child relationship hence contributing to positive outcome in infant development. Reference is made to the importance of understanding how women achieve soothed states and restoration of empowerment when birth presents extra challenge....

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Journal Article 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 67-77 PubMed PMID: 15735588 Citation  Keywords:  Blood Gas Monitoring, Transcutaneous, Child Development, Conditioning (Psychology), Extremities:physiology, Female, Gastrointestinal Contents:chemistry, Handling (Psychology), Heart:physiology, Humans, Hydrogen-Ion Concentration, Infant Behavior, Infant C.   

: This article provides a synopsis of a series of studies exploring the effects of TAC-TIC (Touching And Caressing-Tender In Caring) therapy with premature infants. Study 1 looked at the short and long-term effects and found enhanced mental development in the stroked infants at 15 months. In study 2 the physiological effects of an abbreviated version of TAC-TIC with high-risk ventilated infants were examined and it was concluded that TAC-TIC exerted no harm to these vulnerable infants. The behavioural reactions of a sample of premature and low birthweight infants to TAC-TIC and parental responses to administering it were explored in study 3. The infants were found to respond predominantly with arm and leg movements to TAC-TIC while fathers and mothers reported enjoying performing TAC-TIC and elicited a similar pattern and frequency of behavioural reactions. In study 4 the question of whether TAC-TIC benefits preterm infant learning and/or sucking behaviour was investigated. The conclusion reached was that TAC-TIC may potentially benefit cognitive performance within the neonatal period and that this may be an early indicator of long-term cognitive gains reported by previous studies. Using a matched subjects design, study 5 explored the impact of TAC-TIC upon the digestive system by analysing gastric aspirates before and after TAC-TIC and a control period of time. It was concluded that TAC-TIC appeared to induce a more suitable stomach environment for digestion....

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Journal Article 2004; 25(Suppl 1): 9-34 PubMed PMID: 15735583 Citation  Keywords:  Humans, Infant Welfare, Infant, Newborn:physiology, Infant, Premature, Models, Psychological, Neonatal Screening, Neurologic Examination, Psychology, Child:methods,.   

: By 1994, Health Psychology had been established as a discipline, and defined by Marie Johnston as the scientific study of the psychological processes and behaviour in health, illness and health care. Health Psychology, so far, has mainly related to the adult population, although increasing attention is now being paid to both pediatric and broadly-based child health psychology. It is noteworthy that attention devoted to pediatric and child health psychology has increased dramatically, but the great majority of published work refers to the child and not to the preterm neonate; yet being preterm means being born early, and sometimes too small, and is a stressful life event. In the field of Medicine, Neonatology has appeared as a sub-discipline, and both investigates and cares for at-risk babies, including risk for developmental disabilities. The time is consequently opportune for psychology to make an effective contribution to both the theory and care of the preterm neonate, viewed as a unique, emergent, coactional and hierarchical human being. The formal framework for this is Neonatal Health Psychology (NNHP), which is defined in the article as 'the scientific study of biopsychosocial and behavioural processes in health, illness, and health care of the preterm (and fullterm) neonate during his/her first 28 days of life, and the relationship of such processes with later outcome.' Early work in this category has shown that NNHP has profound interdisciplinary connotations, not least because of the diverse ways in which information has to be derived from the non-verbal neonates. The pathways and scope of NNHP are identified, and many examples of work with preterm neonates are summarised in the article. In making the case for the professional formalization of NNHP, descriptions are given of Neonatal Assessments and very-early interventions; the interdisciplinary character of much of the early work is shown to have been essential. Indication of theoretical frameworks for NNHP is given....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(5): 391-396 PubMed PMID: 15580176 Citation  Keywords:  Adrenocorticotropic Hormone:blood, Adult, Aged, Anxiety:etiology, Caregivers:psychology, Cell Count, Disabled Persons:rehabilitation, Endocrine System:physiology, Female, Humans, Hydrocortisone:blood, Influenza, Human:immunology, Lymphocytes:immunology, M.   

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to determine whether psychological well being as well as metabolic, neuroendocrine and immune functions were different in non spousal primary caregivers of disabled elderly than in controls.

SETTING AND DESIGN: We randomly recruited 38 primary family carers of over 65 year old recipients of health home care services and 37 controls stratified according to sex and age.

METHOD: Data were collected on psychological wellbeing (including anxiety, depression and self-perceived quality of life), on neuroendocrine and immune conditions (haemanalysis and metabolic signs, plasma ACTH, cortisol, prolactin, intra-lymphocyte content of beta-endorphins, NK cell activity and number), as well as on the incidence and severity of influenza disease during previous winter.

RESULTS: Caregivers showed greater anxiety, although mean scores did not reach pathological levels. Neither depression nor satisfaction on quality of life did differ significantly, nor differences in haemanalisis and metabolic signs were found, apart from leukocyte and lymphocyte number, which was significantly lower in carers. Plasma levels of ACTH, cortisol and prolactin, the intra-lymphocyte content of beta-endorphins as well as the NK cell number and cytotoxicity did not show significant differences. Incidence and severity of influenza episodes was also similar, whereas the duration of influenza disease showed to be significantly longer.

CONCLUSIONS: Non spousal caregivers of disabled elderly suffer from only slight alterations of psychological, endocrine and immune parameters, and do not respond very differently to influenza disease. This does not support therefore any generic privilege for them in the allocation of public support or respite services....

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Clinical Trial 2004; 25(4): 297-301 PubMed PMID: 15361821 Citation  Keywords:  Adolescent, Adult, Analysis of Variance, Brain:physiology, Female, Homosexuality:physiology, Humans, Male, Sex Characteristics, Sex Differentiation, Sexual Behavior:physiology, Sexual Partners:psychology, Surveys and Questionnaires,.   

OBJECTIVES: The current study examined and compared the preferred partner characteristics of heterosexual and homosexual men and women in relation to speculated patterns of brain differentiation underlying the preferences. Further, the study compared the preferences of butch versus femme homosexual women.

METHODS: Two hundred twelve heterosexual and homosexual men and women completed questionnaires on which they rated themselves and their idealized sexual partners on various morphological and behavioral characteristics.

RESULTS: Results of within-subjects multivariate analyses of variance (MANOVAs) showed that the pattern of preferred partner characteristics of heterosexual women is most consistent with the theorized brain differentiation underlying those preferences. There was varying support for the theory as it applies to the other three groups. Between-subjects MANOVAs provided evidence to support some of the predictions generated by theory on the differences in brain differentiation between heterosexual and homosexual men and women and between homosexual women categorized as butch and femme.

CONCLUSION: The overall pattern of preferred partner characteristics among and between heterosexual and homosexual men and women does not support theory that holds that underlying brain differentiation between the groups is discrete and categorical. Rather, it supports theory that holds that differentiation manifests itself on a continuum leading to a variety of patterns of sexual orientation, and by extension, preferred partner characteristics....

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